First encounter with SK-II

Back in June, I visited Japan for my honeymoon. One of the fervent wishes I had for this trip was to purchase some serious Japanese skincare. If you have been reading this blog since its birth in March you would probably already have an idea how skincare obsessed I am. Anyway, along we came to this department store called Keio. They had many high-end brands in the beauty floor and I quickly ran to the SK-II counter to get a one-on-one consultation. In that consultation, the SA used a device to take a close up picture of my face. I'm not really sure how it works but after the device performed a skin analysis, my skin's health is shown in different percentages. Let me just sum up the results as poor. *sigh*

Sadly, I was told that my skin's age was 30, which really in the grand scheme of things, is not that old. Yet, it really made me sad because I wasn't 30 yet.... good marketing? to make me buy things? haha well it worked. 


So after that consultation, I was recommended a complete regimen by the SA at the counter.
When I told her I will take all of it, with the ever patient and loving help of my newly officially minted husband "mr. hcb" who not only sat patiently beside me during this entire process in the middle of a huge beauty store (yay!) but was also translating in japanese so that the SA and I could understand each other (because annoyingly I can't speak japanese which I really need to fix). So off I went with my purchases, skipping back to the hotel with a chesire cat grin on my face, I am sure.

Okay, so really the point of this blog post is to not tell everyone that SK-II is expensive because yes it is. But it is also very very very good. The stress prior to the trip due to wedding prep and my hormones all over the place meant my skin was really at its worse in a long time. I've been using the products for a good part of 3 months now and I have to say the texture of my skin has been transformed. I can't believe how smooth, soft, and supple it has become! My acne scars are also diminished and overall the skin looks more luminous.

So what did I buy? 

• SK-II Facial Treatment Gentle Cleansing Cream

• SK-II Facial Treatment Gentle Cleanser

• SK-II LXP Activating Massage Fluid

• SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion and Facial Treatment Essence (Yes that famous one!)

• SK-II Cellumination Essence EX

• SK-II Stempower Moisturizer

Let me just point out that I do not use all of these at the same time. Some of them I have incorporated in my morning routine and others I only use at night.

For example, in the morning I would use the following products in this order:

1. Gentle Facial Cleanser - gentle cleanser that foams a little. I use a pea size amount and work that on a lather between my palms. After some foam appears, I apply to wet face. I have to admit that its a little drying if I use it day and night. Hence I save this cleanser usually in the mornings because it feels refreshing to use. 
2. Facial Treatment Clear Lotion - this is the SK-II answer to "toner". It contains AHA's that gently exfoliate the skin which makes the succeeding products get absorbed better. Very nice. I use a few drops on a cotton pad. You can definitely see the dead skin cells slouched off. It really works.
3. Facial Treatment Essence - THE cornerstone product of SK-II. This product contains the highest concentration of "pitera" which is the wonder ingredient from sake (rice wine) fermentation process. There are a lot of other blogs that talk more about the science of Pitera. I'm not an expert on it. I just know it works really well. This miracle water is really worth your dollars. Save money and then buy this. 
4. Cellumination Essence EX - this is my morning serum. It hydrates as well as lightens my dark spots. This is a big stab on the wallet. But I can testify that it works. I have religiously kept using this in the morning to lighten left over dark spots from previous break outs. It also feels light and non-greasy. I use the dropper to dispense 3 to 4 drops on my palms. 
5. Stempower Moisturizer - I have a love-hate relationship with this one. One the one hand, it diminishes the look of pores when you put it on. Its nice and hydrating. You can still see results the next day. BUT this cream is so sticky! I have tried to leave it on for about an hour before bedtime and then bam! My face is sticking to my pillows. No, just no. Hence not using this at night although I was told to do so by original SK-II SA. In terms of layering under makeup its also hit and miss. I find that the Clinique CC cream cannot be layered with this at all. The product pills off the face (those white bits that looks like you're skin is rubbing off). Very annoying because then I had to wash my face and start my morning routine again! But lesson learned. This seems to be okay when layered with my SANA pore putty BB cream (from Japan) and the Diorskin Nude BB Cream (which I love seriously).

Oh my god, are we still reading? Guess what its not done yet haha. A little bit more!

For night time:

1.  I double cleanse with the Gentle Cleansing Cream. I apply this on DRY skin. Work it in to break up the makeup. Then wipe off with a facial cloth or flannel (bought in bulk/package of 10 at Target for 15 bucks). I then follow with a gentle hydrating foaming cleanser (not SK-II, its a from a brand called HadaLabo)
2.  LXP Activating Massage Fluid - serves as toner for night. As the name suggests I follow with a facial massage. Instructions on a pamphlet given to me by SK-II SA. All in japanese but thank goodness for the diagrams that I can decipher. Pictures do say more than words. I use one pump and work that in and leave a minute to dry. You really do feel that the skin is tightened afterwards. I can see how this would be a harder working product for more mature skin that has begun to lose elasticity. I do enjoy using this massage fluid.
3. Facial Treatment Essence - more goodness.
4. Night Serum - I'm trying to use up my Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair (the original formula. I already have version 2.0 of ANR. Can't wait to crack that baby open. But anyway this is an SK-II post. So on that note, I guess in the future I would like to try other serums from SK-II. Maybe the Brightening Spots Specialist.
5. Moisturizer/Oil - I am on a rotating schedule between my Origins Make a Difference Plus Rejuvenating Moisturizer and Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate (which is an oil). But again these are non SK-II and posts for another day.

Okay so I think that's it. I hope this post was helpful to anyone considering investing in SK-II products!